In some parts of Texas, the rath of Hurricane Ike has been devastating. Thanks to many animal rescue organizations, the pups that have been left homeless, and left without a shelter are being rescued and cared for in shelters throughout Texas. Land and water teams are on the move in southeast Texas communities helping the pups stranded from the storm.

Here is the latest updated news. If you have additional news, please leave us a comment with your information, and we'll post it as soon as possible.

At the Humane Society of Southeast Texas shelter, a small and dedicated group of volunteers had scant resources to do much for the 125 animals they were caring for.

The shelter had no power, and many of the dogs seemed to be rattled and on edge after their ordeal.

They ranged from tiny six-week-old kittens to adult cats and many mid-sized dogs.

Using a 75-foot HSUS trailer capable of housing and transporting 200 or more animals in individual prefabricated cages, responders carried the animals to new quarters to free up space for more rescued animals who began arriving Monday afternoon.

HSUS teams are expecting to bring in many more over the next few days. Read more...

Noah would feel right at home at the Houston SPCA, which has taken in about a thousand animals from communities enduring a major beating from Hurricane Ike.

In addition to hundreds of dogs and cats, the shelter collected horses, ducks, goats, iguanas and even a bear as part of its menagerie in the days leading up to the storm — which crashed ashore before dawn Saturday.

Houston SPCA President Patricia Mercer compared it to the Biblical ark, and the rescue center has taken in the Galveston Island Humane Society animals as well as those from the Brazoria County and Bay Area SPCA in Galveston County, she said. Some of the staff from the other organizations accompanied the critters to Houston.

To prepare for the influx, Houston moved about 300 of its own animals up for adoption to other shelters in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and San Antonio and set up an animal rescue hotline. (Those needing help with their pets can call 713-861-0161 or toll-free 877-661-0161.) Read more...

The wrath of Hurricane Ike left a site of mass destruction at the Galveston County Animal Shelter in Texas City. the Houston SPCA's Disaster Response team lead by Chief Investigator , Charles Jantzen stepped in on Saturday afternoon to rescue 77 dogs, 65 cats, one rabbit, some parakeets and a pelican along with other wildlife that sheltered in place with staff when the hurricane hit. The high winds and pounding rain ripped holes in the ceilings, causing sheets of water to pout into the shelter leaving behind slick floors and soaked animals. The air conditioner went out due to the power outage in the city causing the animals to survive without sufficient ventilation for hours upon arrival they were moved into the facility where they were provided with food, water and shelter.

The animals were transported to the Houston SPCA in a 48 foot air conditioned trailer. Hours upon arrival they were moved into the facility where they were provided with food, water and shelter. Hours before being rescued by the Disaster Response Team, one cat had given birth to kittens. There are many litters of puppies and kittens in the group along with adult cats and dogs who need loving homes. Many of the animals will be up for adoption at the Houston SPCA, as they will have to take shelter in Houston until their home in Texas City is back to normal.

The Houston SPCA's Animal Response Disaster Hotline will be staffed from 10 am to 6 pm daily to field lost and found reports, rescue reports, and to offer animal related information. The number is 713-435-2990. Messages left after hours will be returned promptly the next morning. Read more and continuing updates...

Southpaws Playschool, in Austin, is currently sheltering seven dogs from the Gulf Coast Bully Breed Rescue Group. The dogs won’t be able to go back to the coast–their shelter is gone. Materially and healthwise, Southpaws is okay, but they are looking for bully breed contacts to get these dogs into foster homes or (better yet) permanent homes.

If anyone is able to help these dogs out, or knows of someone who does bully rescue in the Austin area, please contact Sonya at Southpaws Playschool. She can be reached at 512-440-7529.

They are launching the Power to the Paws program through the Petfinder.com Foundation to donate $1,000,000 worth of power generators to Petfinder member shelter and rescue groups to help them prepare for disasters. These generators are lifesavers in times of trouble. Read more...

Also Petfinder and IFAW working on pet water rescues...

As of Saturday morning, the International Fund for Animal Welfare had set up the Petfinder.com Foundation's emergency pet rescue van in lower Louisiana and was busily assisting the Louisiana State Animal Rescue Team with pet rescues in Louisiana. Read more...

From the North Shore Animal League...

Working in cooperation with the Humane Society SPCA of Bexar County, we will assist several shelters whose animals have been evacuated from the direct path of Hurricane Ike. Our rescue efforts will help alleviate dangerously overcrowded conditions. We will transport many animals back to the Animal League where they will be adopted into loving homes. Read more...

From American Humane...

The American Humane Association has deployed its Red Star Animal Emergency Services™ team and equipment to Texas to assist as needed with field assessments and search-and-rescue and sheltering operations for animals affected by Hurricane Ike. American Humane began deploying Saturday at the request of the Texas State Animal Response Team (TexSART) and the Texas Animal Health Commission. Read more...

More than 100 animal evacuees find shelter in Austin. Humans are not the only ones forced from their homes by Hurricane Ike.

More than 100 dogs, cats and other creatures are staying in temporary shelter at the Austin Humane Society as their owners wait to go home to the coast.

"I said please take care of my babies, they're my babies," said Nora Smallwood, an evacuee from Galveston. Owners are staying at more than two dozen shelters around Austin. But they are bused up to twice a day to visit their pets at the Austin Humane Society. Read more...

The Brazos County Emergency Management Team has been working with the Brazos Animal Shelter and the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine to shelter Hurricane Ike evacuees' large and small animals. Many victims of both Rita and Katrina refused to leave animals, which put evacuees in danger. Federal law now allows evacuees to bring pets and livestock with them.

Livestock and pets made the 96 mile trip from Houston over the weekend and have been leaving in the same fashion. Thursday and Friday evacuees headed to Veteran's Park where they were directed to the appropriate shelter depending on the size of the animal. Larger animals were sent to the Expo Center west of Bryan/College Station on Leonard Road while smaller animals were sent to the Riverside Campus Shelter. Read more...

Animal response to Hurricane Ike continues to be a team effort, as the issues are much larger than the resources of any one agency or association. The TAHC statewide has worked with the livestock industry to establish sites for emergency shelters, and with local governments, agencies, and associations to develop animal issues committees.

The Texas Animal Health Commission is supporting the disaster district committees in the affected area with persons who have animal and livestock expertise. The agency has established a small area command in the Austin headquarters, and is one of more than 30 agencies in the Governor's Division of Emergency Management. The TAHC's Area Command can be reached at 800/550-8242, ext 296. Read more...

The City of San Antonio's Animal Care Services has opened a second Emergency Pet Shelter as Gulf Coast residents continue to flee Hurricane Ike and seek refuge in San Antonio.

The shelter has been set up at Freeman Coliseum and will be able to house additional animals, including livestock.

ACS opened the shelter after the Stinson Emergency Pet Shelter reached capacity. The Stinson shelter currently has 520 pets, including dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, iguanas and several turtles. Read more...

Other news...

The Houston SPCA has launched the Animal Rescue line to report lost or found animals and to report animal related information. The Animal Rescue line will remain open until 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6:00 p.m. in the following days. The Pet Hotline phone number is 713-861-0161.

The Waco Humane Society is currently sheltering over 200 pets in the wake of Ike. Drop off and pick up information is available on their website.

The Austin Humane Society has activated its Emergency Pet Sheltering Services in conjunction with the City of Austin to assist with Hurricane Ike Evacuations. They are now housing iver 105 pets (dogs, cats, turtles, birds, and a guinea pig and an iguana – just to name a few…) from evacuees staying in emergency shelters.